Diaphragm valve



April 8, 1930. M. MERKER 1,753,662

DIAPHRAGM VALVE Filed sept. 173/1928 Patented Apr. 8, 193V' UNITED STATES MAX MERRER, F NEW YORK, N. Y.

DIAPHRAGM VALVE Application led September 13, 1928. Serial No. 305,850..v

This inventiony relates to automatic valves and is particularly applicable to pressure operated diaphragm valves wherein the proportions of the various gases, vapors,`liquids or combinations thereof which are allowed to pass into an outlet are controlled through the pressure on the diaphragm. Considerable trouble has been experienced with regulating valves of this type by reason of the sticking of the valve stem caused, for instance, by the congealment of oils about the stem, or to deposits or accumulations of foreign matter, and by reason of the ineiiicient operation of the diaphragm in regulating or shutting of the supply of material passing through the valve, 'and of the complete or partial closure of the valve passages by accumulated matter.

My invention contemplates the provision of a valve `for effectively regulating the flow of water, steam, air, fuel-oils and other liquids, gases and vapors automatically under all conditions of use no matter h'ow severe, by compensating for changes in pressure,

. whereby the proportions of the various masages -free and open and adjusting means forA determining the proportions ofthe materials allowed to pass Kthe valve.

The various objects of my invention will be clear from the description which follows and from the drawings, in which,

. Fig. 1 is a front view and partial vertical section of my improved valve, and Fig. 2 isa horizontal section of the same taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. `1.

In the practical kembodiment of my invention, the valve body 10 is provided with an inlet opening 11' and an outlet opening 12 preferably in alignment with the inlet opening. A compartment 13 in the valve body serves to receive the accurate adjusting means soon to be describedand is preferably arranged substantially at right angles to the openings 10 and 11 which are separated by and communicate through a cylindrical opening 16 through which the valve stem is passed. Into the inlet opening is threaded a suitable inlet pipe as 14, the outlet pipe 15 being connected to the outlet opening 12. Material which will be referred to hereinafter as oil without limitation thereto-is delivered to the inlet pipe and passes. through the inlet opening 11 and when allowed to do so, passes into the .passage 16 and thence outlet pipe 18.l The second type of material which will be referred to hereinafter as air without limitation thereto enters the feed therethrough into the main outlet pipe 18.v

The stream of air serves to carry the oil with it and into the main pipe`1f8 where the air and oil are thoroughly mixed. A T as 20 is inserted into the feed pipe 19, the pipe 21 being connected to one branch of said T and being suitably threaded into the opening 22 of the diaphragm frame 23. 'Ehe diaphragm 24 of flexible material of the usual type, such as rubber, is suitably secured between the diaphragm frame 23 and the dia hragm rin 24 with a leak-proof joint there etween as y meansof the screws 25, said screws 'passing through the ringvinto suitable lugs 26 extending outwardly from the frame arms 27. Suitable screws as 28 Connect the frame head 29 which extends from the valve body 10 to one of the ends of each ofthe frame arms 27, said plate being suitably` perforated as at 30 to allow the passage therethrough of the valve stem 35 and of the adjusting screw 37 The cross-bar 31 connects secured thereto. the frame arms 27 and is provided withl a suitable bearing 32 in which the hub 33 of the diaphragm disc 34 is suitably mounted vfor axial movement.

`I prefer 'to so mount thedi'sc 34 that the4 bearing therefor in a manner well known. 100

A suitable seat as 50 is provided on the diaphragm side of the cross-bar 31 which seat the disc 34 engages in the limiting position thereof, that is, when the' greatest pressure is put on the diaphragm, whereby undue movement of the valve 'dise is prevented. The valve stem 35 is suitably connected at one end thereof to the disc hub 33 so that axial movement of said disc causes similar movement of the stem. Near the other lend of said stem is the reduced portion 36 which is designed to be arranged in the opening 16 during the operation of the valve so as to provide an annular valve passage through which the oil may pass. Secured to the stem near the middle thereof is the screw 37 on which is mounted the adjusting nut 38. Said nut serves to limit the axial opening movement of the stem 35 under pressure on the diaphragm by reason of the engagement of said nut with the face of the frame head 29, and serves further to adjust approximately the amount of the exposure of the reduced portion 36 of the stem in the valve opening 16, and the length of the annular valve passage whereby the maximum uantity of material fed through the opening 16 is predetermined as desired.

For further adjusting the position of the valve stem more accurately, and for locking said stem in its adjusted position, I provide the compression s ring 39 arranged in the compartment 13 o the valve body and press ing against a washer 40 at one end .thereof and against one end of the screw 41 at the other endy thereof.

The washer 40 is preferably formed with a hemi-spherical projection 42 at the center thereof engaging a similarly shaped depression in the end of the valve stem for transmitting the pressure of the spring 39l to theV stem, and of the valve disc 34 against the dia-- phragm 2 4, said valve stem is constantly rotated during operation of the valve by means of the belt 45 operating on the pulley 46,

Awhich pulley is suitably secured to the valve stem as by means of the set screw 47 As has been previously ointed out, the valve disc 34 is so mounte on the stem as to rotate therewith, though if desired, the disc and stem may be so secured together so that only aial movement is transmitted one to the 0 er It will be understood that when no air enters they pipe 19, the valve should be shut oil' so as to prevent the passage or' any oil through the valve passage. This is accom- A plished by means of the spring 39, which normally forces the valve disc against the diaphragm and consequently moves the stem phragm out against the valve disc and moves said disc together with the stem connected thereto axially against the action of the v spring 39 so that the desired amount of the constricted portion 36 is arranged in the valve opening 16 and the proper amount of oil, proportionate to the air pressure, and 4 entering the pipe 14 is allowed to pass into the pipe 15. Should the air pressure in the pipe 19 be reduced, th diaphragm under the reduced pressure. fluxes back towards its initial position and allows the spring 39 to move the valve stem so as to present an annular valve passage of less length than before, thereby reducing the amount of oil {iowingthrough said passage proportionately so that the mixture in the pipe 18 maintains its original proportions.

My improved valve is particularly adapted for the mixing of oil and air for oil burning devices, though it will be readily seen that other materials may be mixed in accurate predetermined proportions by means of my improved device rovided that one of the materials is fed un er pressure. For instance, steam and water may be mixed to maintain the water passing into the outlet pipe 18 at a constant predetermined tem erature. -In that case, the water would be ed 4to the pipe 19 and the steam to the pipe 14, the nut 38 and the screw 41 being adjusted to provide the proper length of the annular valve passage to (supply steam in proper proportion to the water supply, and in predetermined volumes. Should the water pressureincrease, with the consequent additional supply of Water, the diaphragm 24 is operated under the increased pressure to move the valve disc, and therethrough the valve stem thereby increasing the effectiye size of the opening 16 with the consequent admission of. an'increased supply of steam. The various parts of my device may be so proportioned as to maintain a given volume of steam supply to a given volume of water. Similarly, other materials may be mixed, such as raw Water and li uid lime for the purpose of reducing the acldity of the water. In that case, the water enters the diaphragm chamber and the lime enters the valve chamber, the supply oflime the valve stem, and that deposits cannot accumulate about said stem because of the constant agitation nor can the diaphragmdisc adhere to the diaphragm when said disc is caused to rotate. It will further be seen that the size of the valve passage can be accurately adjusted soas to supply a constant proportion of different materials to the outlet pipe.

Other uses and applications of my improved valve are contemplated and need not be stated herein in detail. It is also contemplated that various changes may be made in the structure shown anddescribed 'and I do not therefore Wish to be understood -as limiting myself to the specific structure mentioned but intend to avail myself of the full range vof equivalents afforded by and falling Within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. The combination with a valve body having a valve passage therein, of a valve stem extending through said passage, a portion of reduced diameter on said stem adapted to vary the effective size of said passage, a dia-1 phragm disc at one end'of the stem', a spring at the other end of the stem exerting pressure toward said disc, a pressure diaphragm adapted toJ move said disc and said stem axially against the action of said spring, and means for rotating said stem.

2. In a valve having a valve passage there` in, a stem crossing said passage, a portion ofreduced diameter on said stem intermediate of the ends thereof, fluid pressure operated means including a nonrotatable diaphragm for automatically shifting said stem axially, for varying the Y length of the reduced portion arranged at said passage on the variation of the pressure on said means, and means for rotating said stem for preventing sticking thereof?.

3. In a valve havlng a valve passage therein, a revolublelvalve stem adapted to control the passage of material through the valve passage, a pulley on said stem and intermediate the ends thereof for continuously rotating said stem, While the valve is operative tov prevent sticking of the stem, and fluid pressure operated means for automatically shifting said stem for varying the effective size of said passage in direct ratio t'o the pressure on said means.

4. In a valve having a valve passage therein,'a valve stem, means for continuously rotating said stem a portion of reduced diameter on said stem adapted during operation to he arranged at said passage, and` means operatively connected to said stem for automatically controlling the amount of material passing through said valve includin a non-rotatable diaphragm, a bearing mem er for one end ofthe stem operated by the diaphragm and a pressure conduit communieating with one side of the diaphragm and with the outlet side of the valve passage.

5. In a valve having a valye passage therein, a spring-pressed valve stem controlling the effective siz of said passage, means for adjusting said stem for fixing' the maximum effective size of saidk passage, pressure operated means for automatically shitin ysaid stem for varying the effective size o said passage in direct ratio to the` pressure on said means including a diaphragm, andl a pressure conduit communicating with the diaphragm and with the valve passage, and means independent of the stem adjusting means for continuously rotating the stem.

6. In a valve having a valve passage therein, a revoluble valve stem extending through said passage, a portion of reduced diameter on said stem intermediate the ends thereof adapted to control the yeffective size`or` said passage, means for adjusting said stem for lixing the maximum effectivesize of said pas-A 7. In a valve having a valve passage therein for one type of material, a valve stem extending through said passage, a portion of reduced` diameterY on said stem adapted to control the effective size of said passage, means for adjusting approximately the maximum amount of said portion presented in said passage, means for accurately adjusting said amount comprising a threaded screw on said valve body and a spring interposed between said screw and the end of said stem, and means for controlling the normal effectual size of said passage including a diaphragm acting upon said stem, and a pressure lconduit communicating With the diaphragm and with the outlet side of the valve passage.

8. In a valve having a valve passage therein, a valve stem extending through said passage, a portion of reduced diameter on said stem adapted to control the effective size of Jsaid passage, fluid pressure means for moving said stem axially, means for adjusting said connected to said stem for axially moving said stem, a frame for supporting said diaphragm, means on said frame for limiting stem to vary the effective: size of said valve passage and adjusting means for predetermining the maximum effective size of said passage.

11. In a valve, having a valve passage therein, a valve stem, a non-rotatable diaphragm operating said stem to vary the effective size of the passage, a pulley on said stem and means for rotating said pulley.

12. In a diaphragm valve, a .valve stein, a spring at oneend of said stem, a diaphragm disc at the other end of said stein and means for rotating said stem for preventing sticking thereof.

13. In a valve, a valve body having a valve passage therein, a stem crossing said passage, means for adjusting said stein to a predetermined limiting position, coinprising a screw on said stem intermediate of the ends thereof, an adjusting nut on said screw adapted to move said stern longitudinally relatively to said valve body, a spring in said valve body exerting pressure upon one end of said stem, a screw confining said spring in said body and in threaded engagement with said body and a nut for locking said screw in adjusted position.

14. In a diaphragm valve. a valve body having a valve passage therethrough, an outlet pipe communicating with said passage, a valve stem arranged in'said body and passing through said passage, a diaphragm disc at one end of said stem, adjusting means for said stem at the other end thereof, a diaphragm body, a flexible diaphragm in said body adapted to be engaged by said disc, a frame connecting said valve body and said diaphragm body, adjusting means on said stem between said frame and said disc adapted to engage said frame in the limiting position of said stem, a pipe for material under pressure communicating with said outlet pipe, and a lay-pass in the pressure pipe leading to said diaphragm body. j

15. In a diaphragm valve, a valve body having a valve passage therethrough, a revoluble valve stem arranged substantially perpendicularly to and passing through said valve passage, a diaphragm b'odyhaving a pressure inlet therein, a diaphragm in the diaphragm body operatively connected to said stem for moving said stem longitudinalable means independent ot' the stem rotating means for adjusting said stem longitudinally, and means for automatically adjusting said stem longitudinally on the variation of the pressure on the diaphragm of the valve.

18. In a diaphragm valve, a valve stem, means for rotating said stem for preventing sticking thereof, said means being ineffective to adjust the stem', and iluid pressure operated means for automatically adjusting said stem longitudinally, in response to the pressure on the valve diaphragm.

MAX MERKER.

llO 

